April 2008
47 posts
Finding the Silver Lining
I think non-depository financial institutions need tighter regulation. But this Administration’s track record is exactly the opposite: eliminating industry regulation while consolidating power under the Executive.
Taking the States’ power to regulate insurance companies doing business in their state and placing it in the Federal Executive is a particularly galling power-grab. Anyone...
It's Just Convenient Timing
The “Blueprint for a Modernized Financial Regulatory Structure” (PDF!) announced today has nothing to do with the current economic problems except that those problems are a convenient catalyst to accelerate a concoction that has been sitting on President Bush’s burner for a while.
Treasury Secretary Paulson has been working on these since at least last year:
Check this...
March 2008
37 posts
Let the Doubt Begin!
So, it’s more than a day since I completed the CISSP exam and the self-doubt has set in with a vengeance.
I made the mistake of flipping through a couple of my CISSP exam study books. Re-reading the questions and answers I started wondering “well, that questions sounds familiar, and I think I answered correctly, but is that the one where I went back and forth? Did I change to the...
That Makes Sense
Looking at my Netflix rental activity, I watched 11 movies in January, 11 in February, and 5 in March.
Guess when I started seriously studying for the CISSP?
Timbalada
Trying to wind down after a stressful week and the big exam tomorrow, I spent ~$20 on impulse last night on Amazon’s mp3 store. I bought all of the Billboard Hot 100 #1s from 2007 and 2008 so far.
The store is way too easy. The first purchase they ask if you’re really sure you want to spend your money and if you want to install and run their little app that manages the download and...
In the Same Vein as the Previous Post →
Farm Rescue is helping twice as many farmers this year as last. They also have more than 100 corporate sponsors.
Farm Rescue’s (non-profit) mission is to provide “planting and harvesting assistance to farm families that have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster. Qualifying farmers may be eligible to have their agricultural land planted or harvested free of...
Love Your Fellow Man →
I admit that I am a sucker for stories like these. It can really restore your faith in humanity.
Wow. →
Hell of a way to end the school year:
Witnesses said that around 200 youths gathered in and around the village hall in Wray, Lancashire, which is a few miles from the school. The event, to celebrate the end of Year 11, had been organised by pupils, although the village hall committee had understood that an adult had taken responsibility for the booking.
Alan Day, the village hall chairman, said:...
GPO Latest Executive Agency to Screwup, Act Like...
From its own website the Government Printing Office’s purpose is “for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing and preserving published information in all its forms.”
It is allowed to charge other Federal branches and agencies for the cost to produce materials, but it is not allowed to profit.
Now the Washington Times reports, in “Outsourced passports netting govt....
Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere
Back in February, Harper’s Magazine ran an article by Eric Janszen titled The next bubble:
Priming the markets for tomorrow’s big crash. It is the most concise and most understandable guide to current economic problems I have seen yet. It is finally available online.
Not only does he lay out the most immediate causes and effects of the housing bubble and its collapse, but he also...
Expelled
On Friday Mark Mathis, an intelligent design supporter, screened a movie he made called Expelled. The theme of the movie is purported to be about how intelligent design supporters are unfairly treated by scientists and prevented from teaching their ideas. He tricked some noted evolutionary biologists and atheists into helping him make the film.
Some of those tricked (and credited and thanked in...
Peep War
Peep War is a tabletop war game that uses Peeps, jellybeans, and plastic eggs as its pieces. So awesome.
Sara: “Ross! Ross! They’re being mean to me!”
Ross: “They’re Rodenbikers. They’re mean to everyone.”
Five Years of Shit Like This
Those who remained in captivity—along with all new prisoners seized by the military—were designated “security detainees,” a label that had gained currency in the war on terror, to describe “unlawful combatants” and other prisoners who had been denied P.O.W. status and could be held indefinitely, in isolation and secrecy, without judicial recourse.
And:
The abuse of prisoners at Abu...
“Permanent Vacation” →
“Two unattended computers send endlessly bouncing out-of-office auto-responses to each other.”
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
– Arthur C. Clarke, R.I.P.
So It Smells like China?
My point is that the lazy bastards at FedEx let my package rot in a warehouse for a weekend when, with just an hour’s work, we could have been playing with the new toy.
Why doesn’t anyone deliver packages during the weekend?
I Still Find This Amazing
Mar 17, 2008
9:54 AM
Delivered
FARGO, ND
Mar 15, 2008
7:19 AM
At dest sort facility
GRAND FORKS, ND
Mar 14, 2008
9:38 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
MEMPHIS, TN
Mar 14, 2008
12:37 AM
Arrived at FedEx location
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Mar 13, 2008
1:23 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 13, 2008
10:56 AM
Picked up
SHANGHAI CN
It took longer for Erika’s new MacBook to travel the...
"Like or Like-Not, There Is No 'Meh'."
A little quirk I picked up sometime in the past year: I don’t use the third star.
On both Netflix and Amazon—an any other review site I might conceivably use—I will only click one, two, four, or five stars.
The third star is too wishy-washy. Lazy people live in that star, unwilling or unable to make a choice, to stand by an opinion.
Living in a four-star world one must make...
100
I’m happy to announce that, with my aborted attempt at watching Because I Said So earlier this week, I have seen every movie in the current Netflix Top 100.
I set this goal for myself around this time last year. At that time I had been working through Jim Emerson’s list of 102 Essential Movies. I was enjoying that process but was getting annoyed that I couldn’t keep up with...
“I love the java jive and it loves me.”
– Manhattan Transfer
That's Hilarious
Anyone else find it ironic that the House is meeting behind closed doors to discuss domestic spying legislation?
Me (in so many words): Dear Senator Conrad, please support the rule of law. Do not pass a bill that allows the warrant-less spying of United States Citizens. Do not pass a bill that grants amnesty to telecommunications companies that illegally assisted President Bush and his administration in the warrant-less spying of United States Citizens.
United States Senator Kent Conrad: Thank you for contacting me regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It was good to hear from you.
As you know, the Senate recently debated the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 (S.2248). This legislation would put in place a new set of rules regarding wiretapping for national security. S.2248 would also include a variety of provisions that would improve oversight of the program and expand the judicial review process.
I understand your concerns in regard to this legislation. Many individuals feel that it infringes on civil rights and violates the Fourth Amendment's guarantee against unreasonable searches. Many individuals are also strongly opposed to granting immunity to companies that have participated in unauthorized wiretapping activities at the behest of the Bush Administration.
The FISA process needs reform to account for modern information technology, current patterns of communication, and the nature of the threats faced by our nation. Yet, we also need to safeguard the constitutional rights of American Citizens. S.2248 is not a perfect bill, but various amendments were approved during floor debate to strengthen oversight and privacy protections. I also voted a substitute bill that did not provide immunity for telecommunications companies, as well as for unsuccessful amendments that would have further strengthened FISA court oversight, placed stricter limits on targeting Americans, and shortened the time period after which the new authorities would expire. Finally, I supported an amendment that would have allowed the FISA court to determine whether immunity is appropriate after hearing arguments from those suing the telecommunications companies rather than Congress taking the matter away from the courts completely.
At the end of the day, this bill makes modest improvements in privacy protections. Although I am concerned about the immunity provisions, I joined a bipartisan majority in voting 69-29 to send the bill to negotiations with the House or Representatives. The House version of the bill does not provide immunity. It is my hope that these negotiations will produce a better bill. Please know I will keep your thoughts in mind as this process moves forward.
Me: To get this straight, even though your constituents are strongly opposed to domestic spying and telecom immunity, even though the final version of the bill doesn't include most of the oversight and privacy protections you wanted, even though the final version gives immunity to the telecoms, you voted for it? And now you hope your mistake is fixed by the House?
United States Senator Kent Conrad: Uh, when you put it that way it sounds bad.
Me: United States Senator Kent Conrad is United States President George W. Bush's bitch.
How Is this Not an Unprecedented Invasion of... →
1 tag
No, I Can't Shut Up About the Dry Martini
Why Gin? (A.K.A. What’s Wrong with a Vodka Martini?)
The essence of a true Martini is its aromatics: juniper berries, rose petals, grapes, wormwood, cucumber, citrus peel…
These aromatics form the heart of the most sensual, subtle, mysterious, and masculine cocktail.
There are no aromatics in vodka.
Why Vermouth (A.K.A. Why so much Vermouth)?
Some recipes call for rinsing the...
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The Dry Martini
Ingredients
2 parts Gin
1 part Dry Vermouth
Directions
Shake or Stir well with ice.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Twist a thin-cut citrus peel over top and use as garnish.
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Ugh.
That was not pleasant. Sincere thanks to everyone for their concern.
I’m doing much better now. It’s a good thing too; the in-laws are in town for the weekend so I need my A-game.
Pardon My Absence
I’m almost too sick to type. I am going to go huddle in a corner now.
Now I've Gone and Done It
I’m registered to take the exam for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential at the end of March.
Assuming the fascists at International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc., accept my work experience via a hastily assembled résumé, that is. I guess they are notorious pricks about requiring actual work experience so they don’t...
Failed His Saving Throw... Rolling in His Grave...
Who cares about Favre’s retirement? The presidential primaries?
Gary Gygax is dead!
A memorial service will be held in my basement tonight. Doritos and Mountain Dew will be served. Bring your own dice.
His contribution to modern American culture is immense. I’m sad that I was never able to meet him and thank him.
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The Four Essential Drinks
Ah, yes; the four:
The Dry Martini
The Old Fashioned
The Margarita
The Daiquiri
